On Thursday, April 3, the California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) Library and faculty from the School of Social, Behavioral and Global Studies signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the migration of the student journal Culture, Society, and Praxis—published by SBS students since 2002—to the Library’s new Digital Commons platform. The Dean of the Library, Dr. Frank Wocjik, congratulated the collaboration led by Librarian Ryne Leuzinger and Systems Specialist John Brady. Leuzinger and Brady have worked diligently for several months to bring the journal into the CSUMB library digital collection.
Representing the current board of the journal were students Ramon Araujo, Marilyn Meraz, and Heather Wiley. Other members of the editorial board include Elizabeth Clark, Samantha Dockstader, Angelica Ferron, Anna Gaytan, Estefania Lopez-Chavez, Camille Parker, and Olivia Vasquez.
Prof. Juan José Gutiérrez, founding director of Culture, Society, and Praxis, was joined this year in the stewardship of the journal by its current faculty lead, Dr. Amanda Pullum. According to Prof. Gutiérrez, this important development will strengthen journal in many ways: “The publication has had over the years an important international readership. We have no doubt that the full sponsorship provided by the library will take the journal to a whole new level of exposure.” Dr. Gutiérrez explained that “the journal is a most important pedagogical tool that enables students to empower themselves, enhancing their writing skills, engaging with ideas well beyond the immediate confines of the classroom, and providing them with new opportunities for professionalization.”
During the signing ceremony, Dr. Pullum shared some of her background as a writing instructor and as a writer herself. Before coming to CSUMB, Dr. Pullum was Associate Director of First Year Writing at Duke University. There, she taught writing courses, trained new writing instructors, and served on the editorial board for Duke’s undergraduate student journal. According to Prof. Pullum, “The Digital Commons platform and partnership with the CSUMB Library will ensure that our students have a modern, highly visible, and accessible online venue that spotlights the excellent work of students as both thinkers and editors. This will enable students to share their writing and artistic expression with readers around the world, as well as within the CSUMB community.”
Dr. Andrew Drummond, Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, remarked on the importance of the journal for students’ professionalization and academic engagement. Dr. Ruben Mendoza, Chair of the School of Social, Behavioral, and Global Studies, described the School’s support for the journal initiative throughout its history and in years to come.
Culture, Society, and Praxis encourages all students to submit writing or multimedia works that explore “the ever-changing nature of culture and society.” For more information, please visit www.culturesocietypraxis.org.